Federal Judge Carl J. Nichols refused on Friday to issue an injunction that would halt the Trump administration’s accelerated deportation of Somali migrants. The ruling came after Hines Immigration Law and the Advocates for Human Rights sued, claiming the Justice Department had created a separate docket that pushed Somali cases to a handful of “hand‑picked” judges. Plaintiffs argued the practice amounted to racial discrimination.

Data from Syracuse University shows only about 3,200 of the 3.3 million pending immigration cases involve Somali nationals, yet the lawsuit alleges those filings have been fast‑tracked since January, denying attorneys adequate preparation time. Nichols wrote that the plaintiffs, who are not themselves detained, may lack standing and suggested a suit brought directly by affected migrants could succeed.

The decision leaves the contested scheduling practice in place, allowing immigration officials to continue prioritizing Somali removals while the broader claim of discriminatory policy remains untested. Law firms and advocacy groups must now consider alternative ongoing legal strategies or seek a class‑action on behalf of detained individuals, as the administration maintains that case assignments reflect independent judicial discretion.